Box construction



' Jan. 8, 1935.

I R. MILLER 1,987,305

' BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed June 27, 1334 5 Sheets-Sheet l In men for 1707272 1?. Mi Z Zer" agw Jan. 8, 1935. J. R. MILLER 1,987,305

BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed June 27, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 8 1935. J, R MILLER Q 1,987,305

BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed June 27, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 In yerzi'oj" dofm R Miller" Patented Jan. 8, 1935 t uNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE sox cousrmicrrou John E. Miller, Brewton, Ala. Application June 27, 1934, Serial No. 732,645 '2 Claims. (cl. 217-12) This invention relates to box constructions and top and side panel .joint showing the top in closed particularly to folding shipping containers manposition. ufactured in flat blanks or mats comprising a Fig. 12 is a sectional detail of a panel joint arplurality of panels formed as a single unit; and rangedfor end to face abutment of the panels which can be readily assembled and set up to when folded.

form a box, Fig. 13 is a sectional detail of a modification "The invention relates particularly to the conof the joint shown in Fig. 12. struction of the box blanks or mats and the meth- Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of 0d of forming the same. a box formed from the six panel mat of Fig. 9.

The main objects of this invention are to pro- Fig. 15 is a sectional detail taken on line 1515 10 vide an improved shipping container of simple of Fig. 14 and showing the end and bottom panel and cheap construction, yet possessed fof the joint. same strength as more elaborate and more ex- F g. 16 is a end w p y broken way d pensive constructions designed for similar use; inflection 0f the bOX Shown in Fig. 14.

15 to provide such a construction that can be manu- Folding boxes made of veneer and designed to 5 factured in unitary foldable blanks or mats and e nly p i lly rm d y the manufacturer having an improved arrangement of reinforcefor shipment in knocked-down condition 130 the ment at th folding li t provide a improved user, who completes the assembly of the container, shipping container that can be manufactured of are often constructed with the bottom, side and 20 veneer at less cost than the usual structures for n wa ls f d as s pa t a ls d Cr 20 a, similar purpose in present use; to provide an bound together by wire bands extending around improved folding box joint; and to provide an the p r p y f t x nd d thereto y improved th d of f rming the unitary box staples. Such construction requires elaborate blank machinery for its manufacture and the cost of An illustrative embodiment of this invention ate ia a d s of manufacture are necessarily as is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: h-

Figure 1 i plan vi of a b x blank r m t The present invention relates to box structures comprising a bottom and two end walls, that may be utilized for the same purpose as the Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on th li wire-bound constructions and possessed of great 2-2 of Fig. l. r strength but eliminating the wire bindings and 30 Fig. 3 is a plan view or another box mat compl yin in h ir stead n imp v n ru prising a bottom and two side walls, tion at the folding corners which amply rein- Fig. is a perspective view showing the mats forces such corners and at the same time entails of Figs. 1 and 3 as positioned for assembly to a considerable saving in the manufacturing cost. form a box. In the embodiment of this invention shown in 35 Fig. 5 is aside elevation partly in section show- Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive of the drawings, the box ing the box of Fig. 4 assembled with the excepwith the exception of the top, is formed of two tion of one end and also showing a detached cover mats or la s; t fi st e which Comprises a for the assembled box. bottom panel 1 and two end wall panels 2 formed Fig. s is an end view of the assembled box as a unit. The second mat comprises a bottom 49 partly in section. 3, of the same shape and substantially the same Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional as the bottom 1, and two side Wall panels '3 detail taken on line 77 of Fig. 1 showing the formed with the bottom 3 as a single unit. structure and arrangement of a corner reinforce-=- The two mats are each formed with a groove ment before folding. or cut on the dividing line between the bottom 45 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective bottom View and side or end wall panels whereby the side or of a box showing the relationship or the grain and panels, as the case may be, can be folded in the reinforcing strip to the grain of the wood at right angles to the bottom panel.

in the box walls. The box mats as manufactured are flat uni- 50 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a six panel unitary structures, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; 50 tary mat partially folded. and in the assembly, to form a box or container,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, in one mat is placed on top of the other mat in perspective, of the joint between the top and crossed relation as shown in Fig. 4 with the two side panels of Fig. 9. bottom panels superposed. The bottom panels Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional. detail of the are then preferably secured together in a concs venient manner by means of one or more staples. The side and end panels are then turned upwardly at right angles to their respective bottom panels, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 where they are secured together by means of cleats 5 and 6 secured at the end or top margins of the end and side panels 2 and 4 respectively.

The double bottom formed by the superposed bottom panels of the mats permits the use of thinner stock for bottom panels and while such arrangement is not herein shown it'is readily seen that a saving of material may be had by making the bottom panels of stock having only one-half the thickness of the end or side wall panels. g

In the construction of the two box mats, the first mat is formed to provide three veneer panels comprising the bottom 1 and two ends 2 con-@- nected by means of relatively narrow strips '7 which are placed on one face of the section directly over and parallel with the line on which the end panels are bent or folded relative to the bottom panel.

The strips 7 are secured by means of U-shaped staples 8 which extend transversely over or straddle the dividing or folding line, the staples 8 being driven through the strip '7 and the veneer panels 1 and 2 and clinched over on the opposite side of the section. At the same time and on the same side of the panel as the strips 7 are placed, the end cleats 5 and a center reinforcing strip 9 are secured as shown in Fig. 2, the cleats 5 and the reinforcing strip 9 being secured by staples in any suitable manner.

As shown in Fig. 1, the cleats 5 are disposed at the ends of the end panels 2 which ends become the top margins of the end wall panels when the same are folded upwardly to form the box, the cleats 5 being ended flush with the side edges of theend panels.

The second mat of the box is formed in substantially the same manner as the first mat with the exception that the cleats 6 extend beyond each of the side margins of the mat a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the cleat 5, as shown in Fig. 3.

Thus in the assembly of the box and when the sides and end panels are folded upwardly, the projecting portions'of the cleats 6 will abut the ends of the cleats 5 and the box is completed by nailing the ends of the cleats 6 against the ends of the cleats 5. The cleats 5 may also be secured to the cleats 6 in any other suitable mannet, as for example metal corner straps which are nailed or otherwise secured to the two cleats after they have been brought into abutting position.

As shown in Fig. '7 the folding line or line dividing the end or the side wall panels, as the case may be,.from the bottom panel is formed by a cut or groove which extends entirely through the veneer comprising the panels and into the reinforcing strip 7, the groove extending into the strip '7 for one-half to two thirds of its thickness. The groove shown is cut by a circular saw, router, or other suitable means, after the strips .7 have been secured to the panels and the sides of the groove are preferably formed at an angle of 45 from the plane of the face of the section so that when folded the corners will be mitered P p y- The mats may also be constructed by providing reinforcing strips in which the groove has been formed prior to assembly with the panels, and the panels may be already cut to size. In

such a case the correct positioning of the panels and the strips is automatically accomplished by the assembling machine and the assembly only requires the additional stapling operation which is usually provided by the assembling machine.

The herein described box is particularly designed to be made from single-ply box veneer and the panels are formed so that the grain of the wood will run or extend transversely of the groove or folding line; and the reinforcing strips '7, if of wood, are formed so that their grain will extend in a direction parallel with the groove or folding line.

Thus in folding the sides or ends relative to the bottom panels, the reinforcing strips '7 will tend to bend or fold without splitting and the sides and ends will be so arranged that if they should split, the box as a whole will remain securely bound together. The reinforcing strips 7 and staples at the bottom corners and the cleats 5 and 6 will effectively prevent any separation of the split portions of the side or end panels.

As shown in Figs. 9 to 16 inclusive, my invention is applied to provide a unitary six sided folding box blank or mat which by a simple folding and nailing operation can be set up as a complete box including a hinged cover. In wire bound box constructions wherein the side wall, top and bottom panels are formed in a single mat, the end panels are separate and must be inserted and nailed all around to form a complete box; and in the well known Dozier box construction the six panels are all made separately and then assembled. With my improved six panel unitary mat the assembly is very much simplified and the cost of assembly considerably lessened.

Also as shown in Figs. 9 to 16 inclusive, my improved folding box joint may be utilized to provide for end to face abutment of adjacent panels whereby the greatest joint strength is realized. Thus the side panel edges may abut and rest upon the face of the bottom panel so that vertical load on the box sides may be safely carried without rupturing the joint.

As shownin Fig. 9 the unitary six panel mat comprises a bottom panel 10, two oppositely disposed side panels 11 and 12, and a top panel 13 all hinged together in series by means of reinforcing strips 14 positioned over and parallel with the adjoining panel edges on one side of the mat.

Extending outwardly, at right angles to the direction of the panel series, from opposite edges of the bottom panel 10 are a pair of wing panels 15 arranged to fold upwardly to a vertical posi tion from the bottom panel 10 to provide ends for the assembled box.

The outward margins of the wing'panels 15 are each provided with a cleat 16, disposed on the 'same side of-the mat as the strips 14 so as to be on the outside of the box, and the side panels 11 and 12 are each provided with a similar cleat 17 secured along the margin furthest from the bottom panel 10. The cleats 16 project on each side of the respective wing panel the side wall panels and the cleats 17 project in a similar way a distance equal to the thickness of the cleats 16. Thus when the box mat is folded and assembled as shown in Figs. 14 and 16 the cleats will abut each other and can be nailed together as shown in Fig. 14, the wing a distance substantially equal to the thickness of I panels or ends 15 being set in flush with the edges of the side and bottom panels.

-ily seen that by forming the groove 20 so that The top panel 13 is proportioned so that when the box is set up it will overlap the marginal cleats of panels 15 and 11 and the top edge of panel 12. Thus the top panel will rest solidly upon the four walls of the box and can be nailed on all the open edges of the box. As a matter of strength the reinforcing strip 14, serving as a joint and hinge between the top panel 13 and the wall panel 12, extends the full length of the top panel. The cleat 17 for the panel 12 is applied on the outside of the strip 14.

The wing panels 15 are secured to the bottom panel 10 by means of special reinforcing strips 18 attached to the outer side of the wing panels and to the inner side of the bottom panel, as shown in Figs. 9 and 15. The strips 18 thus lie between the panels 15 and 10. One margin of the strip 18 is first fastened to the panel 15 by means of staples 19 driven through the strip and into the panel, the staples being placed so that their legs are located on opposite sides of the edge of panel 15 as shown in Figs. 9 and 15.

Then the other margin is fastened to the bottom 10 by staples driven through the strip and into the bottom 10. The margin secured to the bottom 10 is preferably wider than that fastened to the wing panel for the reason that the grain of the bottom extends parallel with the strip 18 and a greater securing area is required to prevent the bottom from splitting and allowing the wing panels to pull away.

In'the construction of the six panel unitary mat the panels 10, 11, 12 and 13 are first assembled as one unit and the wing panels 15 are built separately with the strips 18 attached. The wing panels are then attached to the main mat portion by means of the strips 18 and the six panel unit is completed. I

In order to provide for folding or bending at the joint between the wing panels and the bottom panel, the strip 18 is provided with a cut groove in the face laying next to the wing panel.

This groove is preferably out before the stripis attached to the wing panel and the strip is then positioned on the wing panel, so that the bottom or deepest part of the groove will be in line with the edge of the wing panel. Then when the wing panel is attached to the bottom panel the groove is aligned with the edge of the bottom panel. Thus when the wing panel is folded the strip will bend so that the edge of the wing panel will abut the face of the bottom panel as shown in Fig. 15.

The type of joint used to provide edge to face abutment of the adjoining panels is shown in Figs. 12 and i3 and is preferably used in the construction of the six panel unitary mat. This joint may also be used in the two mat box shown in Fig. 4. Such a joint is provided by cutting the groove in the reinforcing strip so that the bottom or deepest part of the groove is near-' st the edge of th panel against which the edge the adjoining panel is toabut. Two types of coves are shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The type Fig. 12 is preferable when'the groove is formed cutting through the wall panels and then into he reinforcing strip and the type of Fig. 13 may be used when panels already cut to size are used in building the mat and when the groove is out in the reinforcing strip either before or LIE) one C) after the strip has been fastened to the panels.

its deepest part or bottom is nearest the panel 10, the adjoining panel 11 will fold so that its edge 21 will abut the face 22 of the panel 10. The strip 14 will bend at its weakest point, the bottom or deepest part of the groove, and will thus bring the edge 21 over and against the face 22. The wire staples securing the strips 14 to the panels also serve to reinforce the corner or the formed joint.

My improved method of manufacture of the box mats comprising a plurality of foldable panels consists 'in providing sufficient veneer to form the panels and arranging such veneer so that the grain of the wood will extend lengthwise of the mat or transversely of the folding line between the panels; then providing suitable strips in which the fibers run lengthwise of the strip and placing such strips over the folding lines of the mat; then securing the strips to the veneer forming the panels by means of U-shaped staples which are positioned so that their legs are located on opposite sides of the folding line and then by means of a circular saw, router, or other suitable means, cutting a suitable groove into the reinforcing strip from the side of the panel opposite the side on which the reinforcing strip is secured.

With this method of manufacture, it is readily seen that a box mat may be made from one single sheet of veneer which would be cut during the formation of the groove to form the bottom and end or side panels as the case may be. Also the box mats may be formed of separate panels, cut to proper size to form the various panels, which'panels are secured together during the operation of stapling on the reinforcing strips 7. Also it will be readily seen that the box mats may be formed of a plurality of strips of veneer extending lengthwise of the met but spaced apart across the width of the mat to provide a ventilated box or shipping container.

The hereindescribed box construction is one that lends itself readily to machine manufacture and since the construction of the mats is mainly a simple stapling operation, together with a simple cutting operation, the machine for manufacturing the mats. may be a comparatively simple mechanism.

The Wooden pieces that are used to construct the box sections are simple and easily cut to size by automatic machinery and the operation of the fabricating machine is merely that of placing the wooden pieces in proper relation with each other, stapling them together to secure them in such position and then cutting the grooves into the reinforcing strips on the folding lines.

The particular advantage of my improved box construction and method of forming the box sections lies in the fact that low cost sin le-ply box veneer can be employed to produce a box having substantially the same strength and load capacity as the heavier and more complicated box structures now in use; with the added advantage that the total cost of manufacture is so low as to make this wooden construction a competitive article on the market with the inexpensive paper box constructions that are so widely used. Thus a shipper is permitted the advantages of a wooden box for substantially the same cost as a paper box of the same capacity.

Although several embodiments of this invention are hereinv shown and described, it is to be understood that details as set forth may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the follow ing claims:

I claim:

1. A folding box joint, comprising two panels disposed with their parallelly adjacent edges spaced apart a predetermined distance, a reinforcing strip disposed parallel with the said adjacent edges and overlapping each of said panels, said strip having a groove formed in the face thereof nearest said panels and. parallel with and between said adjacent edges, and a plurality of staples securing said strip to. said panels, said staples being disposed transversely of said strip on the face thereof opposite said groove and with a leg in each of said panels. I

2. A folding box joint, comprising two panels disposed with their parallelly adjacent edges spaced apart a predetermined distance, a reinforcing strip disposed parallel to the said adjacent edges and overlapping each of said panels, said strip having a groove formed in the face thereof nearest said panels and parallel with and between said adjacent edges, the bottom of said groove being nearer one panel edge than the other whereby when said panels are folded at right angles to each other the face of the panel nearest the bottom of the groove will abut the adjacent end of the other panel, and a plurality of staples securing said strip to said panels, said staples being disposed transversely of said strip on the face thereof opposite said groove and with a leg in each of said panels.

3. A box construction of the class described, comprising a mat formed of a plurality of panels joined together by relatively narrow strips placed on one side of the mat parallel with and overlapping the joint and secured by staples driven through the strips and into the panels and having their legs located on opposite sides of the joint, said strips each having a groove formed in the face nearest said panels and extending lengthwise of the strip between the adjoining panel edges, and each of said grooves being nearer the edge of one panel than the adjacent edge of the other panel.

4. A box construction' of the class described wherein two flat sections are, placed one on top of the other in crossed relation and the projecting end portions are turned upwardly to provide walls, each of said flat sections comprising a bottom panel and two wall panels secured together by relatively narrow strips overlapping the parallelly adjacent edges and fastened'thereto by staples having their legs located on opposite sides of said adjacent edges, said strips each having a groove out in the face thereof adjacent said wall panels and on a line between said adjacent edges.

4 5. A box construction of the class described wherein two flat sections are placed one on top of the other in crossed relation and the projecting end portions are turned upwardly to provide walls, each of said flat sections comprising a bottom panel and two wall panels secured together by wooden strips overlapping the parallelly adjacent edges and fastened thereto by staples having their legs located on opposite sides of said adjacent edges, said strips each having a groove cut in the face thereof adjacent said wall panels and on a line between said adjacent edges, said panels being formed with the wood grain extending transversely of the said adjacent edges, and said strips having their grain extending parallel with the said adjacent edges.

6. A box construction of the class described comprising a'mat formed of a plurality of panels joined together in series by wire fastenings extending from one panel to an adjacent panel transversely of the parallelly adjacent panel edges, and wing panels extending at right angles to the direction of the panel series from opposite edges of one of the panels of said series, said wing panels each being arranged to fold to a vertical position relative to said one series panel substantially in line with the edge thereof from which it extends and having wire fastening means extending transversely across the line of fold securing the wing panel to a reinforcing strip extending parallel with the line of fold, said reinforcing strip having a longitudinal groove coincident with the said line of fold and being secured to the adjacent margin of said one series panel.

7. A box construction of the class described comprising a mat formed of four panels joined together in edge to edge series by wire fastenings extending from one panel to another transversely of the parallelly adjacent panel edges, a wing panel projecting outwardly from each of opposite edges of one of the panels of said series, and a reinforcing strip for each of said wing panels securing said wing panels to the said one series panel, said reinforcing strips being disposed parallel with and overlapping the respective adjacent panel edges with the margin of one face toward a wing panel and the opposite margin of the other face toward the said one series panel, each of said strips having a-longitudinal groove in the face adjacent the respective wing panel and located adjacent the wing paneledge, and each of said strips being secured to a wing panel by staples having their legs located on opposite sides of said groove.

JOHN R. MILLER. 

